Writer: Max Percy
Director: James Newton
Baklâ is a new show, created and performed by Max Percy, in which Percy simultaneously shares his experiences of growing up a queer person in Filipino culture and explores how the effects of the Spanish colonial rule of the Philippines is still having an impact on some generations of people today.
The historical moments of the performance are educational, and inform the audience about a part of history that isn’t generally taught in British schools. The way Percy brings this story to life is moving, showing the pain that people experienced due to the actions of the Spanish. The final moments of the show are particularly harrowing, despite how simple the staging is. They also bring to life the moments from their life story beautifully, through a combination of movement, comedic presentation and naturalistic scenes of acting.
Max Percy is clearly a phenomenally multi-talented performer. They move incredibly well, both in moments that are more dance-like and in moments bringing to life different characters. They have fantastic comic timing, whilst also showcasing their abilities as a very strong actor in the more naturalistic scenes.
However what the show had in variety of storytelling methods, it lacked a little in cohesiveness. The show feels like it attempts to pack in every method of storytelling that Percy, and director James Newton, could think of and it may have been more impactful to choose a more distinct style for the production. Even two styles, one for the historical narrative and one for the present day narrative, could have made the show a little tighter.
Regardless, your reviewer left the theatre moved by the stories told through the evening and thoroughly impressed by Max Percy’s abilities as a performer and cannot wait to see what lies in their future career.
Reviewed on 27th July 2023.
Baklâ runs throughout August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Summerhall.
